PANAJI
Goa is set to host two major athletics events in 2026, with the Goa Athletics Association (GAA) announcing the 57th Goa State Athletics Championship and the 37th West Zone Junior Athletics Championship at the Atal Athletic Stadium, Bambolim.
The 57th Goa State Athletics Championship, being held in memory of former Goa Chief Minister and former Defence Minister of India, Padma Bhushan Dr Manohar Parrikar, will take place from July 30 to August 1, 2026.
More than 2,000 athletes from schools, colleges, clubs, institutions and sports organisations across Goa are expected to participate. Competitions will be held across age categories ranging from Under-8 boys and girls to senior men and women, covering a full spectrum of track and field disciplines, including sprints, middle- and long-distance races, hurdles, relays, jumps, throws, race walking and combined events.
The championship will also serve as the selection trial for the 37th West Zone Junior Athletics Championship, which Goa will host from September 27 to 29, 2026, under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Online registrations for the State Championship opened on June 25 and will close on July 23.
To ensure accurate and efficient conduct of the competition, the GAA will deploy the Time, Scoring and Result (TSR) system, while Electronic Distance Measuring (EDM) equipment will be used for field events such as shot put, javelin throw and jumping disciplines.
The GAA selection committee, chaired by Dr Sahadev Mandrekar, will select athletes to represent Goa at the West Zone Championship and other national competitions organised by the AFI, based on performances at the State Championship and applicable eligibility criteria.
Preparations for both championships are already underway in coordination with the Athletics Federation of India, the Sports Authority of Goa, technical officials and other stakeholders.
GAA Secretary Sharendra Naik appealed to educational institutions, sports organisations, corporate partners and the public to extend their support to both events.
The State Championship will feature age-specific competitions. Athletes in the Under-8, Under-10 and Under-12 categories will compete in events such as the 60m, 600m, long jump and modified throwing disciplines. The Under-14 category will feature triathlon formats combining sprinting, jumping and endurance events.
The Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20 categories will contest a comprehensive range of events, including hurdles, steeplechase, relays, race walking, pole vault, triple jump and combined events such as the pentathlon, heptathlon and decathlon. Senior athletes will compete across the full range of track and field disciplines, including the 20-km race walk.
The West Zone Junior Athletics Championship will feature selected events in the Under-14, Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20 categories.
The announcement was made in the presence of GAA Senior Vice-President Rajsingh Rane, Joint Secretary Sonali Shetyekar, Executive Committee Member Minaxi Karapurkar, and Selection Committee Chairman Dr Sahadev Mandrekar.
The Goa Athletics Association is affiliated with the Athletics Federation of India and recognised by the Sports Authority of Goa.
